Crangs Heasleigh Farmhouse And Former Granary Adjoining To East

Crangs Heasleigh Farmhouse and Former Granary Adjoining to East

A farmhouse and adjoining former granary at Heasley Lane, North Molton, shown on Ordnance Survey maps as Little Heasley. The building dates from the early to mid 17th century with probable early to mid 18th century alterations. It was refaced in 1791, reportedly with a date stone, though this was not noted at the time of survey in September 1987. The building underwent mid to late 19th century alterations and additions, including conversion of the granary, and minor mid to late 20th century changes including the conversion of the granary to domestic accommodation.

The front facing is late 18th century sandstone ashlar with alternating wide and narrow courses, the wide courses positioned at voussoir level. The sides and rear are rendered. The 19th century additions are of uncoursed stone rubble. The roof is gable-ended with scantle slate, incorporating a catslide over a two-storey outshut at the centre to the rear. There is a 17th century square stone axial ridge stack, its top stage rebuilt in 19th century red brick, and a 19th century red brick stack behind the ridge to the left.

The plan reflects probable 17th century three-room organisation: the house to the left consists of a hall with cross passage and a former service room to the right (now the parlour) with a former inner room to the left. A probable 19th century two-roomed addition extends to the right, with the former granary above the right-hand end, converted to domestic accommodation in the 20th century. A two-storey outshut projects from the centre rear, with one-storey lean-to additions at each end; that to the rear of the left-hand end includes a dairy and returns to the gable end. The lean-to additions and outshut are probably mid to late 19th century. The building is two storeys with some one-storey lean-to additions.

The left-hand 17th century range has a not quite symmetrical late 18th century four-bay front. Windows comprise 20th century two- and three-light wooden casements in old openings with stone flat-arched heads, some with small voussoirs inscribed in imitation on larger stones, and 20th century concrete cills. Arches over first-floor windows have been replaced with 20th century concrete lintels except for the right-hand example. The second ground-floor window from the left retains a late 18th century wrought-iron band beneath its arch. Between the two left-hand ground-floor windows is an apparently inserted small window with a 20th century two-light wooden casement and concrete lintel, possibly a former fire window. A late 19th century half-glazed door in the second bay from the right has two upper glazed panels and three side-beaded flush panels, with a stone flat-arched head.

The later addition to the right features a first-floor 20th century three-light wooden casement, a mid 20th century two-light wooden casement, an inserted ground-floor late 20th century one-light wooden casement, and a 20th century three-light wooden casement, all with wooden lintels. A late 20th century half-glazed door to the left has a wooden lintel. A straight joint to the left of the right-hand ground-floor window may indicate a former wider ground-floor opening. A 20th century half-glazed loft door to the right-hand gable end is approached by an external flight of stone steps.

The interior contains significant 17th and 18th century features. The right-hand ground-floor room has a 17th century chamfered spine beam. A 17th century open fireplace to the right has stone jambs and a chamfered wooden lintel with runout stops. An 18th century cupboard in the left-hand wall is fitted with two raised and fielded panels and a moulded architrave, with 19th century matchboarding. A mid 19th century staircase in the passage has rectangular-section stick balusters and a turned newel post.

The central ground-floor room features 19th century segmental-arched recesses flanking the fireplace. The left-hand ground-floor room retains a late 17th or early 18th century chamfered spine beam with runout stops, adzed to take plaster. A fine early to mid 18th century cupboard is located in the left-hand rear corner, comprising two doors each with three raised and fielded panels, round-arched heads, raised spandrels, and a moulded cornice. Below is a drawer and a smaller cupboard with raised and fielded panels. The top cupboard contains three shelves with multiple ogee-shaped fronts. Four-panelled doors throughout are mainly 19th century work. A passage runs to the rear of the first-floor rooms. The roof-space was not inspected.